No. 11 Illinois secured a hard-fought victory over Maryland, winning 78-72 on Sunday at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.
Key Takeaways
David Mirkovic scored 22 points to help No. 11 Illinois defeat Maryland 78-72, securing a spot in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
- David Mirkovic led Illinois with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
- Ben Humrichous made a crucial three-pointer that sparked a decisive run for the Illini.
- Andre Mills scored 30 points for Maryland, but Darius Adams missed a final layup attempt.
- Illinois tied a program record with their eighth road win in Big Ten play.
- Maryland will face Oregon in the opening game of the Big Ten Tournament.
David Mirkovic led the Illini with 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Terrapins, despite a challenging season under first-year coach Buzz Williams, put up a strong fight but ultimately fell short. Illinois took control of the game when Ben Humrichous made a crucial three-pointer that started a 7-0 run for the Illini.
The Terps pulled back within two points, but a successful challenge by Illinois on an out-of-bounds call allowed them to retain possession with just over a minute left. Mirkovic then scored a layup, and Maryland's next possession ended poorly when Andre Mills missed a three-point shot after using most of the shot clock.
Mills led Maryland with 30 points, while Darius Adams added 14 points. Despite their loss, the Terrapins finished one game ahead of Penn State for last place in the conference. For Illinois, Kylan Boswell and Keaton Wagler each scored 11 points.
The victory gave Illinois a bye into Friday's quarterfinals in the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini also tied a program record with their eighth road win in Big Ten play. Maryland, as the No. 17 seed, will play against 16th-seeded Oregon in the tournament's opening game on Tuesday.
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